Wednesday, March 23, 2011

03/23/2011
SANTIAGO — The United States Monday sent mixed messages about its objectives in Libya, as President Barack Obama said Moamer Kadhafi must go, but vowed US forces would stick to a narrower UN mandate.

“Our military action is in support of an international mandate from the Security Council that specifically focuses on the humanitarian threat posed by Colonel Kadhafi to his people,” Obama told a press conference in Chile.

The missile and air strikes launched at the weekend were “in support of UN Security Resolution 1973, that specifically talks about humanitarian efforts, and we are going to make sure that we stick to that mandate,” he added.

But Obama stressed it was “US policy that Kadhafi needs to go” accusing the veteran leader who has ruled the north African country for more than four decades of murdering civilians as he tries to quell an opposition uprising..... MORE